Monday, June 02, 2008

Stand like one Approved by God

These verses continue our study in 2 Timothy 2.
14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
Here Paul gives us things to remember. he does so by instructing, reminding Timothy what he needs to remember.
1. Remind his people that this is a charge, an order from God.
a. they are not to quarrel about words....it does no good, it just ruins the people listening.
b. present yourself as one approved of by God. I read those words and I think of how I carry myself when I think that someone approves of me. I've seen it in children. Praise them and they stand just a bit taller. So we are to carry ourselves the same way...as if God approves of us, as if God is saying...well done. We need to have that same attitude and carriage.
c. Avoid meaningless babble. Serioiusly. Let's just stay away from it, what good does it do us? All it does, Paul points out, is to lead people into ungodliness. If we get into ungodliness, then we can't carry ourselves as someone approved of by God. And that's just sad.
d. Paul goes on so far as to point out two people, Hymenaeus and Philetus, as people who have been lost to such talk. They have swerved from the truth and they are upsetting the faith of others.
e. Remind the people, remember that God's foundation is firm. it still stands. The Lord indeed knows who are his. And we need to remember that those who are his, will depart from the sin in their lives. At least they will try! :)

I know, my devotion isn't a real long one this morning, but I think it is clear. Stick to God, remember that he approves of you, LIVE like he does, and if you believe in him, leave the sin in your life, just leave it behind.

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